Star Trek Captain of the Enterprise, William Shatner exited Jeff Besos’ Blue Origin rocket at the age of 90 overwhelmed by the revelation that the minuscule five foot wide thin blue veil surrounding earth is all that separates us from destruction.
Distance and space shed light on this slight protection as well as the perspective of a combined humanity who will live or die together.
The illumination defies the fact that we see ourselves as unrelated tribes speaking unrelated languages, living individual lives.
It defies our aversion to amend bad habits despite worry for the planet.
All that separates us summons the greeting Namaste. The light in you recognizes the light in me. The suggestion is I see you and I see you are like me though we mostly don’t see or believe that.
The words thin blue veil stay with me. In this post quarantine Pandemic infused 2.0 life I see that veil hanging like a pall between what was and what will be. The atmosphere feels toxic and beyond repair. The dream of the greatest nation a spec in the bygone distance.
The prevailing text of modern yoga states at the outset that the goal of yoga is to lift the veil of ignorance about our true nature. At this moment of cynical denial of undeniable truths, the veil prevails as evidenced by the current social civil war. I once thought yoga could save the world but it seems only to have become another distraction.
This veil is a fog of confusion. Should this veil dissipate might we come to recognize the true nature of ourselves in concert with our environment? Would the release of one veil not protect the one surrounding the planet? Would the emptiness of the word us become instead a construct of social reform?
The veil between courtesy and contempt is a porous shroud blowing in the breeze of moodiness.
The veil between health and sickness is a moment that changes everything.
The veil between friend and foe is fickle and self serving.
The veil between comfortable and destitute is always uncertain.
The veil between fact and opinion is a wall.
The veil between Liberal and Conservative an electric fence.
The veil between the boomers and whatever letter this generation is, is language.
The veil between relevant and discarded makes no sense.
The veil between male and female is full of holes.
The nature to watch for disaster is hardwired. To look at life with optimism takes work and practice. The right environment makes it easier but that environment is not prevailing. Everything is in question now.
What will we give up for the love of the earth and her creatures?
What can we buy that has no plastic?
What can we eat that hasn’t harmed a person or animal?
How should we build our home to not over extend?
Buy our clothes?
Invest our money?
How will we make the least impact on the fragile blue veil?
What can we pretend is not our problem?